Islamic scholar from S. Africa denied entry into U.S.

A prominent Islamic scholar from South Africa has been denied entry into United States after arriving at San Francisco International Airport from London, airport officials said on Sunday.

Fazlur Rahman Azmi was invited by Moslems in San Francisco to participate in activities marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, but he was detained and denied entry into the United States, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil liberties group.

Moslems in San Francisco questioned the authorities about their motive, but Michael Fleming, a Customs and Border Protection spokesman, refused to give any details of the case but said, "His application for entry into the U.S. was determined to be inadmissible."

The case underscored the increased scrutiny and suspicion that have been exercised upon Moslems in and outside America since Sept. 11, 2001, analysts said.

In the five years since the terrorist attacks, some Moslem Americans have tried to be less visible as they live and work beside their fellow Americans, the Los Angeles Times said in an earlier report.

Source: Xinhua